Nine days of prayer and reflection from Ascension to Pentecost
Before Jesus returned to his Father in Heaven, he told his friends to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the the Holy Spirit. For 9 days, the Friends of Jesus waited with Mary. During this time, they prayed.
We now join in prayer for 9 days, waiting for the gifts and fruits of the Spirit to be poured out again on us so that we can spread the good news of Jesus to others.
PREPARE A SACRED SPACE – with a red cloth and a candle, make sure an adult lights the candle OR use a battery one.
Everyday, we will ask the Father to send the Spirit down upon us again, in a special way.
You might like to teach others the hymn:
Abba Father send your Spirit, glory Jesus Christ. Abba Father send your Spirit, glory Jesus Christ.
Glory, hallelujah, glory Jesus Christ. Glory, hallelujah, glory Jesus Christ.
Below are some ideas to use with the children – but please feel free to adapt and develop……
For days 1-7 you could – write the GIFT OF THE SPIRIT you are praying for in one section on the sheet and then colour it in…you might like to use the colours of the rainbow – seven gifts – seven rainbow colours.(cf diagram at end of novena)
OR – you could cut out a flame and write the GIFT OF THE SPIRIT for that day on it and colour it. Put it on your Sacred Space…
OR – you could draw a Holy Spirit each day and write on the gift for that day.
(in fact – if you like you could do all the activities)
Day 8 and 9 – draw different fruits on the tree (e.g. apple/orange/banana – and write on each fruit – a FRUIT of the SPIRIT.
OR – you could cut out the different fruits and write a FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT on each one – and put it on your Sacred Space.
Get ready for PENTECOST DAY - cut out as many doves as there are people in your family…… On ONE side write, – a gift of the Spirit and a fruit of the Spirit so that every dove has a different gift and a different fruit. You might like to decorate them as well.
You could use a flame instead of a dove…. Keep them safe until PENTECOST SUNDAY
You could also make a cake for Pentecost Sunday – it is the birthday of the Church – and decorate it. Then have a party and celebrate.
Always start with:
We gather in the belief that God’s Spirit, present in all the Universe, is here present in us – in (name everyone present)
We give thanks for the ways God’s Spirit is seen in who we are and what we do.
Day 1:
Think about the gift of Wonder and Awe.
When you look at our world, at creation – talk about what amazes you most in our world - Flowers/animals/stars. What is it that amazes you?……
Think about yourself and how amazing you are – remember God created YOU.
How would you describe God who does all this amazing creating??
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the gift of wonder and awe. Help us always to remember that you are wonderful, all powerful, all caring……(add your own words…) Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 2:
Think about the gift of Right Judgement
Sometimes, it’s hard to know right from wrong and then to choose to do what is right.
Think about yourself- what are the right things you do? What are the wrong things you sometimes do? How do you work out what is right or wrong?
What will the gift of Right Judgement help us to do?
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the gift of Right Judgement. Help us always to remember that you ask us to do what is right, such as (make a list ))and to turn away from what is wrong (what wrong things should we not do?)
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 3:
Think about the gift of Understanding
What do you think it means to be a follower of Jesus?
How do we show that we are followers of Jesus? What should we do and say?
How will the gift of understanding help us to be better followers of Jesus?
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the gift of Understanding –
So that we can always remember that a follower of Jesus should….. (make a list of how a follower of Jesus should live…)
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 4:
Think about the gift of Reverence
Reverence means showing respect for God, for people for creation, resources
How do we show respect - for God, for people for creation, resources
How do I feel when someone shows me respect?
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the gift of Reverence –
So that we can always be respectful in our words and actions
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 5 :
Think about the gift of knowledge
Knowledge means that we learn about God, about Jesus, about others and about creation and we realise how everyone and everything is inter-connected and works together.
Knowledge is more than just facts, it is understanding the facts as well.
What do you know about God and how God does thing?
What do you know about Jesus and the kind of person Jesus is?
What do you know about ……………………..(name a friend/member of your family); what gifts and talents do they have?)
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the gift of Knowledge –
So that we can always be respectful in our words and actions
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 6 :
Think about the gift of Courage
We all need courage – it helps us do what God teaches us is right . It helps us overcome our fear.
Do you ever feel afraid? When? What can you do when you are afraid?
When do you need courage?
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the gift of Courage –
So that when we are afraid we will know you are with us and we will have the courage to do what is right.
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 7:
Think about the gift of wisdom
This gift helps us always to see God in everyone and in everything that happens.
Can you think of someone that you see God in? Someone who is “like” Jesus – who does and says the things that Jesus did and said.
Can you think of something that happened that reminded you of Jesus?
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the gift of Wisdom –
So that we can see you in all the people and events of our lives.
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 8:
Think about 5 of the Fruits of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience and Kindness
We all received the Spirit of God at our baptism. We have to grow the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. We “grow” the fruits by using them.
How do you show Love, Joy, Peace, Patience and Kindness – when you are at home and in school?
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the fruits of your Spirts of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience and Kindness – so that we can become the person you created us to be and be full of your Spirit.
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
Day 9:
Think about the other four Fruits of the Spirit – Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
We all received the Spirit of God at our baptism. We have to grow the fruits of the Spirit in our lives. We “grow” the fruits by using them.
How do you show : goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control when you are at home and in school?
Jesus, send us your Holy Spirit and fill us with the fruits of your Spirts – Goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control – so that we can become the person you created us to be and be full of your Spirit.
Sing a song of praise to God. Or sing – Abba Father send your Spirit….
Mary, Mother of Jesus, you stayed with the first apostles until the Holy Spirit came; stay with us and pray with us. Amen
PENTECOST SUNDAY
We gather in the belief that God’s Spirit, present in all the Universe, is here present in us – in……. (name everyone present)
We give thanks for the ways God’s Spirit is seen in who we are and what we do.
You-tube – No More Waiting: Pentecost Song by John Hardwick (good because children can join in)
Or read Acts 2:1-11
If you have prepared a “dove” with a gift and a fruit of the Spirit – choose one now and share – what you have received and how you might do to show the gift and the fruit everyday….
We pray together:
We give thanks for the Spirit of God in our world and in all people.
We give thanks for the people who show us what the Spirit of God can do
When they allow the Spirit to work in their lives.
We give thanks for their wisdom
For their care and concern for others,
For their generosity and courage,
And for the many ways they make the world a better place.
We give thanks for the Spirit of God in our lives,
In our own gifts and abilities.
May we use our own gifts of the Spirit well
So that God’s Spirit will be seen in all we do and say. Amen
(prayer by Michael Morwood)
Now party…..!
